Council Meetings

Our council meets the first Monday of each month beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the church hall. Any Catholic male 18+ years old is welcome.

Today there are over 125 members of the Knights of Columbus in our council.

Council History

Complete History (.pdf 68.9 KB)

In 1979 several men of the St John’s parish were having coffee and donuts after Sunday Mass, in the hall. A discussion of the Knights of Columbus was brought up. Several of those present were members of other councils, but were not active due to the time it took to drive to meetings in other towns and home again. Some had been members but were not current members. Msgr. Michael Schwarte was contacted and he gave his permission to start a Knights of Columbus council in the St John's parish.

On March 2nd, 1980 a letter signed by Tony Leo went to all men of the St John, St Patrick and the Church Of The Assumption parishes. A meeting was held at St. Johns Hall on March 24th, 1980 to explore the possibilities of organizing a local K of C council. District Deputy George Johns and several men from the Indianola council came and talked about the importance of starting a local council at St John’s - Cumming.

The next organization meeting was held on April 15th, 1980 for the purpose of a starting a K of C council in Cumming. At this meeting eleven men were nominated to be officers for the next year. With the election of officers was to be held at the next meeting, to be held on May 5th at 8PM. On May 5th 1980 at 8PM election of officers for the next term year were held. Tony Leo was elected to be our first Grand Knight. Al Coleman as Deputy Grand Knight, Msgr. Michael Schwarte was elected Chaplain; we were deeply honored, as Monsignor was a 4th degree member and a member of the K of C’s for 50 years. At that meeting an initiation was held in the first degree.

The council chose to be named after the first residency pastor at St Johns – Cumming, IA. Fr. James Quinn council. The Supreme Council issued our Charter #7556 Fr. James Quinn council on April 24th 1980 with 56 Charter Members.

• Our first Tootsie Roll campaign was held Sept 6th & 7th 1980 and every year since.
• Our first exemplification into the second and third degrees was held in the parish hall on Sunday October 12th, 1980, for a class of Twenty-Nine men.
• The Knights of Columbus Youth Group called SQUIRES was begun earlier about 1975, by Richard Harkin and assisted by Bill Hartshorn.
• Our first Bingo was held October 17th, 1980.
• Our first Lenten Fish Fry was March 6, 1981 and every Lenten Season to date. Our record attendance at fish fries was 570 served on March 23rd 1990 and 560 served on March 30th 1990.
• Our first Steak Dinner was in October 1980.
• Our first Corporate Communion was June 27th, 1981.
• Our first Dinner/Dance was June 27th, 1981 after the Corporate Communion. Two dinner/dances per year were held, helping our seminarians Tom Dooley (a member of our council) and Chris Hartshorn, both members of St. Johns and now both ordained priests.
• Our first Free Throw Contest, both local and District contests have been held here at the High School since Jan 15th, 1983 and every year to date.
• Our first annual Altar Server appreciation outing with the Iowa Cubs was July 15th 1988 and every year to date.
• Perpetual memorial for all deceased member of our council was started in June 1992.
• In 1992 Jim Cain was instrumental in starting a College scholarship fund for graduating High School Seniors. Starting with one $300.00 scholarship per of year for three years. As more funds became available it has increased to giving five to six $500.00 scholarships per year. Our first Scholarship Fund Raiser Dinner/Dance was held April 24th 1993.
• Our council #7556 has always supported our seminarians, priests, bishops and all church functions. Donations to the After Prom Party and Project Graduation, at Norwalk High School, scholarships for graduating seniors and many other civic and youth needs, E.G. Boy Scouts, Lions Club, and families in need.


History Compiled by Dave Knoblauch